[quote=jpinpb][quote=Ricechex]My gut feeling is that these areas are not going to stay “nice” for the next 20 years. It feels fun, eclectic, cool, green, fabulous, trendy to live here now….but what about later?[/quote]
That is a good point. The bad areas that got “revitalized” may revert as the economy deteriorates. But also, the next cycle of boom (whenever that’ll be) will also see the area improve again, imo.
92102, 92106 and 92116 all have their good parts and bad parts. Some streets are good, particularly the canyon ones. Some streets are bad. You can tell just driving them. Bars on the windows are a good sign.
I’m just blown away that the area south of ECB between the 805 and 15 is commanding so much money. People are flipping in that ghetto neighborhood that though is 92104, is really City Heights. Probably to some unsuspecting folks starting out thinking they will be able to move up and out later.[/quote]
You are completely right about City Heights. In 2001 I got in a panic over housing prices. My friend and I bought a SFR in City Heights. For a rental, as I was already living in a great rental house (still am…but always feared/fear that I will get the boot when the landlady dies…) The area was “upcoming.” Price Charities had big involvement in the area, there was a new Albertsons, even a Starbucks! Remodeled police station, new library, etc. etc. It was going to be all the rage. Lots of condo conversions, so there were actually owners moving into the neighborhood.
Well, I can tell you now, unless I was completely desperate would I move in to the house we own. The area came up a little. Just a little. That Albertsons….OMG….it is an urban jungle, kids running amock, people stealing steaks with workers running after them. You can pave the streets with gold, but it makes no difference.
Some streets are very nice, and you will pay for them. Normal Heights and the Mountain View streets are good. In Northpark, Pershing, Granada, Texas, Mississippi, south of Univ and near Morley Field have ALWAYS been good streets. Burlingame is very nice, but out of the price range. In Golden Hill, I like Edgemont Street and surrounding streets.
If you do buy in North Park, do not get anything remotely near any of the bars/restaurants. Otherwise, you will have no street parking, and have crazy noisy patrons urinating on your front lawn, and making chaos.
I think the area between 805 and 15 is called the “wine glass” area due to its shape. My GF lives on Swift (a very bad street) and walks her dog around that neighborhood a lot. She constantly sees aggressive dogs, stray dogs, aggressive neighbors, stray neighbors, police, helicopters (ghetto birds)…etc. The city publishes a crime report monthly, there are many break ins. Shelling out $2500 a month to live with all that crap just does not make sense to me. Better to live with the crap and rent for a lot cheaper!
If I were buying I would check out the San Carlos in the east, Rolando area, and Clairemont. Bigger lots, and more stable neighborhoods over time.
